Company collapse leaves families on brink

BREAKING: The collapse of a major electrical company has left Toowoomba families on the brink of financial disaster, with some up to $400,000 out of pocket, a union claims.

The Electrical Trades Union is calling on Geiger Group to pay all outstanding entitlements to employees following the liquidation of five Geiger companies on Monday.

In June Geiger Electrical made 45 electrical workers redundant without notice, agreeing to pay all employee entitlements by July.

Instead the company went into liquidation on Monday, leaving ETU Members up to $400,000 out of pocket, with more money owing to sub-contractors and creditors.

The ETU believes the company has liquidated Geiger Electrical and four other companies in order to avoid paying their employees outstanding entitlements.

The ETU is concerned about the futures of current Geiger employees, with another 15 Geiger Civil employees sacked on Monday just prior to a third scheduled Fair Work hearing on outstanding entitlements.

"The company was aware of the potential shortage of work last year and failed to put safe guards in place to minimize the impact to workers," ETU Organiser Dan McGaw said.

"These impacted Toowoomba families are on the brink of financial crisis, with some members already putting their homes on the market and relationships under immense pressure."